Studies have shown that wealthier people and wealthier countries are less likely to have faith and believe in God. And yet there are startling exceptions, such as John D. Rockefeller, the wealthiest American of all time, and the United States of America, which outranks all other countries in its material wealth.

Citing a stunning piece by Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Cracow explaining Jacob’s strange vow after his vision of the ladder ascending to Heaven in Parshat Vayeitzei, Rabbi Dunner offers a solution that is both sensible and inspiring.